Skip to main content

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Economics ((BRIEFSECONOMICS))

  • 401 Accesses

Abstract

A comprehensive review of the existing literature on technological capabilities and sources of supplier learning reveals two shortcomings. First, insufficient attention has been paid to the evolutionary dynamics of firm-level learning trajectories, especially those of small developing country firms towards the bottom of the technological ladder. Second, the literature has failed to integrate lead firm and supplier perspectives in shaping supplier learning. This book therefore addresses the following two research questions: how did local suppliers’ capability evolve over time, and why did the capability building trajectories evolve in the ways they did?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    These include Lall (1992), Bell and Pavitt (1995), Ariffin (2000), and Figueiredo (2000, 2002). For a comprehensive review of the literature, see Bell (2007).

  2. 2.

    Whilst such strategic functions vary across industries, in capital-intensive sectors such as the automotive industry, they typically include product development, marketing, and manufacturing of core components.

  3. 3.

    For a review of the existing empirical literature, see Morrison et al. (2008).

  4. 4.

    This is clearly shown in Fig. 6.2 of Pham (2007: 195).

References

  • Ariffin N (2000) The internationalisation of innovative capabilities: the Malaysian electronics industry. Unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Sussex

    Google Scholar 

  • Ariffin N, Figueiredo PN (2004) Internationalization of innovative capabilities: counter-evidence from the electronics industry in Malaysia and Brazil. Oxf Dev Stud 32(4):559–583

    Google Scholar 

  • Ariffin N, Figueiredo PN (2006) Globalisation of innovative capabilities: evidence from local and foreign firms in the electronics industry in Malaysia and Brazil. Sci Technol Soc 11(1):191–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell M (1984) ‘Learning’ and the accumulation of industrial technological capacity in developing countries. In: Fransman M, King K (eds) Technological capability in the third world. The Macmillan Press Ltd, Basingstoke, pp. 187–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell M (2006) Time and technological learning in industrialising countries: how long does it take? how fast is it moving (if at all)? Int J Technol Manage 36(1, 2, 3):25–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell M (2007). Technological learning and the development of production and innovative capacities in the industry and infrastructure sectors of the least developed countries: what roles for ODA? prepared for UNCTAD as a background paper for least developing countries report 2007. UNCTAD, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell M, Albu M (1999) Knowledge systems and technological dynamism in industrial clusters in developing countries. World Dev 27(9):1715–1734

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell M, Pavitt K (1995) The development of technological capabilities. In: ul Haque I (ed) Trade, technology and international competitiveness, Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, Washington, DC, pp. 67–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell M, Pavitt K (1997) Technological accumulation and industrial growth: contrasts between developed and developing countries. In: Archibugi D, Mitchie J (eds) Technology, globalisation, and economic, performance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 83–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Caniëls MCJ, Romijn HA (2003) Agglomeration advantages and capability building in industrial cluster: the missing link. J Dev Stud 39(3):129–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Caniëls MCJ, Romijn HA (2005) What drives innovativeness in industrial clusters? Transcending the debate. Camb J Econ 29:497–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Chitravas C (2006) Strategic learning and capability development challenge: the case of Thai auto-part firms. Unpublished PhD thesis, The Australian National University

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlman CJ, Ross-Larson B, Westphal LE (1987) Managing technological development: lessons from newly industrializing countries. World Dev 15(6):759–775

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutrénit G (2000) Learning and knowledge management in the firm: from knowledge accumulation to strategic capabilities. Edward Elgar, Northampton

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo PN (2000) Technological capability-accumulation paths and the underlying processes in the latecomer context: a comparative analysis of two large steel companies in Brazil. Unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Sussex

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo PN (2002) Does technological learning pay off? inter-firm differences in technological capability-accumulation paths and operational performance improvement. Res Policy 31:73–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo PN (2003) Learning, capability accumulation and firms differences: evidence from latecomer steel. Ind Corp Change 12(3):607–643

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo PN (2008a) Government policies and sources of latecomer firms’ capability building: a learning story from Brazil. Oxf Dev Stud 36(1):59–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo PN (2008b) Industrial policy changes and firm-level technological capability development: evidence from northern Brazil. World Dev 36(1):55–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Gammeltoft P (2004) Development of firm-level technological capabilities: the case of Indonesian electronics industry. J Asia Pac Econ 9(1):49–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Gereffi G (1999) International trade and industrial upgrading in the apparel commodity chain. J Int Econ 48:37–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Gereffi G, Humphrey J, Kaplinsky R, Sturgeon TJ (2001) Introduction: globalisation, value chains and development. IDS Bull 32(3):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Gereffi G, Humphrey J, Sturgeon T (2005) The governance of global value chains. Rev Int Polit Econ 12(1):78–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey J, Schmitz H (2001) Governance of global value chains. IDS Bull 32(3):19–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey J, Schmitz H (2004) Governance in global value chains. In: Schmitz H (ed) Local enterprises in the global economy: issues of governance and upgrading. Edward Elgar, Northampton, pp 95–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonker M, Romijn H, Szirmai A (2006) Technological effort, technological capabilities and economic performance: a case study of the paper manufacturing sector in West Java. Technovation 26:121–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim L (1997) The dynamics of Samsung’s technological learning in semiconductors. Calif Manage Rev 39(3):86–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim L (1998) Crisis construction and organizational learning: capability building in catching-up at Hyundai Motor. Organ Sci 9(4):506–521

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim L (2004) The multifaceted evolution of Korean technological capabilities and its implications for contemporary policy. Oxf Dev Stud 32(3):341–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Lall S (1992) Technological capabilities and industrialization. World Dev 20(2):165–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall B-Å (1993) National systems of innovation. Frances Pinter, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Malerba F (2002) Sectoral systems of innovation and production. Res Policy 31:247–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Malerba F (2004) Sectoral systems of innovation: concepts, issues and analyses of six major sectors in Europe. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyers PW (1990) Non-linear learning in large technological firms: period four implies chaos. Res Policy 19:97–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitsuhashi K (2005) The furniture value chains from Thailand to Japan: upgrading and the roles of buyers. Unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Sussex

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison A, Pietrobelli C, Rabellotti R (2008) Global value chains and technological capabilities: a framework to study learning and innovation in developing countries. Oxf Dev Stud 36(1):39–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadvi K (1999) Collective efficiency and collective failure: the response of the Sialkot surgical instrument cluster to global quality pressures. World Dev 27(9):1605–1626

    Google Scholar 

  • Navas-Alemán L (2006) Opportunities and obstacles for industrial upgrading of Brazilian footwear and furniture firms: a comparison of global and national value chains. Unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Sussex

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson RR, Winter SG (1982) An evolutionary theory of economic change. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen DT (2006) Building external manufacturing capability in emerging markets: Honda’s knowledge transfer and the role of local suppliers’ responsiveness. J Asia-Pac Bus 7(4):77–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Palpacuer F (2000) Competence-based strategies and global production networks. Competition and Change 4:353–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Pham TH (2007) Effects of supply systems on firms’ capabilities building in new emerging economies: the case of Vietnam’s motorcycle industry. Unpublished PhD thesis, Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University

    Google Scholar 

  • Pham TH, Yoshikazu S (2006). Supplier-assembler network structure and capability improvement of suppliers in newly emerging Vietnam’s motorcycle industry. Asian J Technol Innov 14(2):143–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Romijn H (1999) Acquisition of technological capability in small firms in developing countries. Macmillan Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz H (2004) Globalized localities: introduction. In: Schmitz H (ed) Local enterprises in the global economy: issues of governance and upgrading. Edward Elgar, Northampton, pp 1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz H (2006) Learning and earning in global garment and footwear chains. Eur J Dev Res 18(4):546–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz H (2007) Transitions and trajectories in the build up of innovation capabilities: insights from the global value chain approach. Asian J Technol Innov 15(2):151–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott-Kemmis D, Chitravas C (2007) Revisiting the learning and capability concepts: building learning systems in Thai auto component firms. Asian J Technol Innov 15(2):67–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Tran NC (2009) Learning by networking with multinationals: a study of the Vietnamese automotive industry. In: Graham M, Woo J (eds) Fuelling economic growth: the role of public-private sector research in development. Practical Action Publishing Ltd, Warwickshire, pp 219–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Tewari M (1999) Successful adjustment in Indian industry: the case of Ludhiana’s woolen knitwear cluster. World Dev 27(9):1651–1671

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mai Fujita .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 IDE-JETRO

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fujita, M. (2013). Literature Review. In: Exploiting Linkages for Building Technological Capabilities. SpringerBriefs in Economics. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54770-9_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics